Barrichello Advises Hamilton to Keep Ferrari Engineer Talks Private

Former Ferrari driver Rubens Barrichello has publicly advised Lewis Hamilton to handle sensitive conversations with his race engineer, Riccardo Adami, in private rather than over the open team radio. Barrichello emphasized that resolving frustrations behind closed doors is more professional than airing them during broadcasts, a point underscored by recent attention on Hamilton's radio communications at Ferrari.

Why it matters:

Hamilton's move to Ferrari is one of the biggest stories in modern F1, and every interaction is under a microscope. How he manages the internal team dynamics, especially the critical driver-engineer relationship, can significantly impact his performance and the team's harmony. Public criticisms or miscommunications, even minor ones, can fuel narratives and create unnecessary external pressure.

The details:

• Speaking on the Flow podcast, Barrichello pointedly commented on Hamilton's radio style, suggesting the seven-time champion can come across as "a bit of a pain in the a**" to listeners when he critiques his engineer over the air.
• His core advice was clear: "...is something you solve behind closed doors; you don't solve it out here."
• Barrichello acknowledged the high emotions during a race but stressed the importance of compartmentalizing them, advising patience over immediate public reaction.
• This advice follows notable instances where Hamilton's communications with Adami have drawn scrutiny, including a post-race moment at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix where a message to the pit wall reportedly went unanswered.

Between the lines:

Barrichello's comments carry weight from his own extensive Ferrari experience. They highlight a cultural adjustment Hamilton is navigating. At Mercedes, Hamilton and engineer Pete Bonnington developed a famously effective and public long-term partnership. At Ferrari, he must build a new relationship with Adami under intense scrutiny, where every radio snippet is analyzed. Sebastian Vettel, another former Ferrari driver, previously advised Hamilton to learn Italian to better integrate, calling his own failure to do so a major regret. This suggests a broader theme of veterans advising Hamilton on the unique, insular culture of Maranello.

What's next:

Hamilton's adaptation off-track will be as watched as his performance on it. The off-season and pre-season testing will be crucial for him and Adami to build their working rapport away from the spotlight. Success at Ferrari often hinges on seamless internal unity, and managing communications—both public and private—will be a key part of Hamilton's challenge to bring the championship back to Maranello.